Raiders may be out of the running for Heyward

OF THE EXAMINER STAFF

Published 4:00 am, Friday, February 28, 1997

If an agent's instincts are accurate signals, then it looks like the Raiders will lose out on a free-agent fullback.

Craig "Ironhead" Heyward probably won't be playing for the Raiders next season, according to his agent, Jack Mills. Heyward, who spent the last three seasons in Atlanta, visited with Raiders officials last Friday and also is considering St. Louis and San Diego. The Raiders liked Heyward because at 5-feet-11, 260 pounds, he would have been a perfect complement to Napoleon Kaufman in the team's switch to a power running game.

However, that possibility doesn't look like one that will materialize.

"I haven't talked to him in a couple days, but I think he's probably going to play somewhere else," Mills said.

"That's just the way I've been reading his situation."

Another player the Raiders have been eyeing - although they won't admit to it - is Baltimore Ravens free safety Eric Turner. There has been much speculation that the Ravens will release Turner to avoid paying him the $3.09 million he would make this season.

The team has until 1 p.m. PST Friday to release or trade Turner in order to avoid paying that money. In a baffling move, the Ravens are trying to restructure his deal in order to somehow hold on to him, although sources said Turner doesn't want to stay there for less money.

The Raiders, along with the New York Jets, are awaiting Turner's likely release if a new contract can't be completed by that deadline. Those two teams apparently have the strongest chance of signing him as an unrestricted free agent and aren't willing to offer any trade bait to the Ravens.

As for other moves, the Raiders have talked about possibly re-signing some of the players waived before the Feb. 14 salary cap deadline, and defensive tackle Jerry Ball is one of the likeliest candidates. Before being waived, the 32-year-old Ball was due to make $2.95 million next season. That, of course, was the reason he was cut in the first place.

Sources said the Raiders want him back, at a much cheaper price, especially because they value his leadership. Ball was one of six team captains last season.